Hydraulic torque converter of the converter coupling type



Nov. 16, 1948. 2,453,877

H. TRAlL HYDRAULIC TORQUE CONVERTER OF THE CONVERTER COUPLING TYPE Filed July 10, 1944 4 1a I R r -7 5 19247- 545 15 I4 j 7 I ,Z I 37 4 4} E51 w I 'l Hal I I? Patented Nov. 16, 1948 1 HYDRAULIC TORQUE CONVERTER-F THE CONVERTER COUPLING TYPE Herbert H. Trail, Kalamazoo, Micln, alaignor to Fuller Manufacturing Company, Kalam Mich.

' Application July 1c, 1044, Serial No. 544,215

1 I IClaim. y

This invention relates to improvements in hy- I draulic torque converter of the converter coupling type.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a hydraulic torque converter of the converter coupling type in which the fluid is effectively circulated through a cooling unit without the aid of a separate pump. 1

Second, to provide a structure in which adequate 011 channels are provided. unobstructed by bearings, and in which the fluid is subjected to a minimum of agitation or turbulence as it flows to and from the unit.

vortex so that the fluid is effectively driven through these ports into the annular passage Ii.

In the embodiment illustrated the reaction member is provided with an overrunning clutch designated generally by the numeral I! which is provided with a housing I! having a fluid chamber 20 therein. The sleeve 2| carried by the driving member 2 is disposed in concentric relation to the ,shaft id providing an annular passage 22 con- Third, to provide a unit of the hydraulic converter coupling type which eflectively functions as a pump for the 'circulationoi the fluid.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which is quite simple and economical in its parts and one which isv compact.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claim. 7

A structure which embodiesthe features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line i-l of Fig. 2 of a structure embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing i represents the flywheel to which the vaned driving member 2 is secured. 8 represents the crank shaft or source of power. The driven member 4 is mounted on the main or driven shaft 5 which is supported at its front end by the bearing I and at its rear end by the bearing I on the housing I. The reaction member 8 is provided with a tubular shaft iiI concentrically disposed relative to the shaft 5 and spaced therefrom to provide an annular fluid passage i I. The front ends of the shaft and the reaction member are supported by the bearing I 2 carried by the hub II on the driven member which is splined at M to the shaft I. The rear end of the shaft i0 is supported by the bearing I! carried by the housing I and spaced from the bearing 1 to provide an annular fluid space It communicating with and to which the passage l I delivers. The members 2, l and 9 are of the vane type and in operation set up a vortex as is understood in the art.

The reaction member is provided with ports I! disposed between the vanes thereof and in the zone of the greatest pressure diflerential of the necting the chamber 20 with the inlet 23 of the driving member 2 of the torque converter members. A packing 24 is provided between the housing it and the sleeve 2i, and a packing 25 is provided at the rear of the bearing i. A drain channel 26 is provided in the housing id. The housing 8 has a drain channel 2! communicating with the channel 28. The channels or passages are provided with drain plugs 28 and 28.

The cooling unit 30 is provided with a cooling chamber 3| having a horizontal portion 32 therein and cells 33 connected by the conduits l4 and ii to the cooling source of the motor or other source of cooling fluid as is convenient. -The discharge space it is connected to the cooling chamber of the cooling unit by the conduit 38 while the cooling chamber II is connected to the chamber 20 by the conduit ll. It will be understood that the cooling unit and its connections as described are shown somewhat conventionally.

The cooling unit is provided with an expansion chamber which is connected to the chamber 3| by the passage 39 having a valve 40 urged to its seat by the spring ll. This expansion chamber is also connected to the cooling chamber by means of the passage 42 having a valve 43 urged to its seat by the spring 44. The spring ll is designed to yield under expansion pressure resulting from the heating of the fluid while the spring of the valve 43 is of substantially less strength and is designed to yield when a partial vacuum results in the system from the cooling of the fluid.

In the embodiment illustrated the one way brake unit sometimes termed an overrunning clutch unit is that of my copending application filed July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,277, now Patent No. 2,392,013, and includes a fixed race member ii, a cam member 45 secured to the shaft l8 and coacting rollers 48 provided with a cage 41. This cage has vanes ll thereon which rotate within the fluid in the chamber 20, serving to retard the cage against the action of the spring indicated at 40. This results in minimizing frictional wear on the parts and also the heating of the parts incident to such frictional wear. Associated with the torque converter is a clutch unit 60. a fragment of which is shown.

' flow through bearings as is frequently-the case in structures of this kind. The free open passages facilitate the flow of the fluid and minimize the turbulence to which the fluid is subjected in its flow through the system. I

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical and satisfactory embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments and adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent ls:-- r

A hydraulic torque converter comprising meeting vaned driving, driven and reaction members. a main shaft to which the driven member is connected, a. tubular shaft for the reaction member U concentric with and spaced from said main shaft to provide a fluid passage between them, bearings .for said main and reaction member shafts disposed in spaced relation at the end of the reaction member shaft to provide a. fluid discharge, saidreaction member having ports between the vanes thereof located in the zone of the reatest pressure of the vortex and delivering to said passage between said shafts, a one-way brake for said reaction member shaft including a housing constituting a fluid chamber, an element of said overrunning clutch having vanes thereof subject to the fluid in said chamber, a sleeve'carried by the driving member and disposed in concentric relation to the reaction member shaft to provide an annular fluid passage connection from said fluid chamber to the fluid intake of the driving member, and a fluid cooling unit provided with an inlet connection opening to said fluid discharge space between said bearings and a delivery connection to said fluid chamber.

HERBERT H. TRAIL.

} I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,923,404 White Aug. 22, 1933 1,970,236 Kluge Aug. 14, 1934 2,100,191 I Lapsley Nov. 23,-- 1937 4 2,128,828 Klepper Aug. 30, 1938 2,143,312 Griswold Jan. 10, 1939 ..-2,22$,884 Schneider Dec. 17,;1940 2,241,764, Biillinger May 13,:1941 2,363,983 Miller NOV. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 446,530 Great Britain 1936 887,658

Germany 1940 

